You did not save 10K! Saving is the actual putting of savings into a savings account, the fact that you spent less than before on some stuff does not mean you "saved" the difference. You obviously spent it somewhere else, otherwise you would have $10,000 in your savings account! She still has the idiotic "it is on sale, so I am saving" mentality. She saved a bit ($100 a month is BARELY $1,200 a year), but she did not save 10K! This whole article is a freaking lie!

Geez.  I put together a budget as suggested in this article, and found myself with just less than $20 / day for groceries and miscellaneous.  I have "only" $600 in discretionary money each month???  Ten years ago I was living in a dry shack in a friend's back yard, with the heat turned off and eating peanut butter and Top Ramen noodles.  I worked hard to make it to where I am, and I jumped for joy when I saw how much extra I have now!  What a wonderful blessing!!!!!!  I am SO lucky and I know it!

But this is why I quit reading your magazine, Good Housekeeping.  I recognize that the idea of having to cut back is tough no matter who you are, but most of us can't relate to an author who dithers about spending $3 / gallon more for organic milk.  The question for most people right now is whether or not they have enough to buy one or two gallons of the cheapest milk in the case, and how much water they might be able to get away with adding to make it stretch.  And did you know that you can cook those noodle and rice pouch dinners in old yogurt containers?  And you don't have to add butter?  Tips like that, GH, not things like "Don't buy a $4 latte every day."  Yeesh!

Trevor - I think the point that you're missing is that these article are always the same. They promise ways to "save" money and the only advise they can give  you is to not buy lattes every day.

We're angry because for the grand majority of Americans the reality over the last 4-5 years has been that we cannot afford to buy wants any more. You know it's bad when you're in the gracery store staring at papertowls and trying to figure out if it's a "need" or a "want" because technically you could use a cloth towel to wipe up spills, but then you'd nee dto buy more laundry detergent because you'd have 2 more loads of towels to wash each week. Do I need to get the inside handle on my car door fixed that hasn't opened for a year, or is it a want because I only drive with a passenger infrequently? There's no debate about whether or not the TV that fritzes out is a need or a want, it's a want because I can't even afford to keep the cable on to watch it anymore.

People like this author piss me off. She's clearly up there income wise and writes an article like she's one of the struggling middle class who can't figure out how they are going to pay the rent.

Give me a break- "While driving to a wekeend ski vacation in our Escalade, my husband turned to me and said Biffy, we need to stop spending so much money and I grew pale knowing that meant my hot stone massage I had scheduled later that afternoon with pedro would have to be cancelled..."

**Gag**

Here are 4 was to save money you've never thought of before...(new article I'm writing for MSN)

1. When purchasing a Yacht it pays to haggle over the price. Threatening to walk away before finalizing the deal could net big savings. Total saved $5K.

2. Instead of dining in 5 star restaurants 5 nights a week, hire an immigrant to cook dinner for you at home. You'll gain all of the ethnic flavor and save a load of cash! Total saved $700 per week.

3. Instead of paying a limosene company to provide you with on-call drivers, hire a private chafeur to drive you in your own vehicle. The annual salary is much less than per diem services. Total saved $2,000 per year.

4. Instead of spending $2400 a year on Botox injections, spend for a face lift once for $6000 that lasts forever. Savings after 5 years $6,000.